AT&T offers Christmas deals on Blackberrys and a free Solstice

Christmas will be here before you know it so you had better get your holiday shopping done. If the people on your shopping list are still rocking that old flip phone that was cool two years ago, it's time for an upgrade. AT&T is offering some deals on popular smartphones and feature phones for the holidays including several half off Blackberry devices and a free Samsung Solstice.

The Blackberry handsets covered in the special sale include the Bold 9700 and 9000 as well as several Curve models including the 8900, 8520, 8320, and 8310. All of these Blackberry handsets are being offered at half price. The downside is you can count on the savings being offered as a mail-in rebate. Have I mentioned I loathe mail-in rebates?

If you don't want a Blackberry you can get the Samsung Solstice for free after a mail-in rebate. The device sells for $50 and you have to buy a data or messaging pack costing at least $20 monthly. If you need a new handset this may be the time to buy. A real Christmas miracle would be the iPhone on Verizon.